Oaxacan montane forests

Located in the northern slope of Sierra Norte de Oaxaca, this ecoregion ranks among the largest intact montane forests of southern Mexico. The climate is temperate and the area recieves as much as 3,000 mm/year, some areas get as much as 6,000 mm/year. This ecoregion is extremely high in herpetofauna. Natural forest which have been relatively undistubed since the Miocene period can be found along these flora rich slopes. Recognized as one of the largest intact remnants of montane forest in all of Mexico, this region is threatened by agriculture, cattle farming, logging and exploitation of forest resources.

Scientific Code

(NT0146)

Ecoregion Category

Neotropical

Size

2,900 square miles

Status

Critical/Endangered

Habitats

Description

Location and General Description

Biodiversity Features

Current Status

Types and Severity of Threats

Justification of Ecoregion DelineationThe delineation’s for these montane forests were derived from several sources. Initial linework follows current landcover maps of Mexico (INEGI 1996). In this case we traced existing montane mesophile forests which extend along the eastern flank of the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca in the states of Oaxaca, Puebla, and Veracruz and lumped together all human modified landscapes which occur within this broader region. The linework was then reviewed by expert opinion at two ecoregion workshops (CONABIO 1996 and 1997). In general the linework follows the distributions of montane flora and fauna on an elevational gradient, which is distinct from the surrounding lowland and dry forests (Rzedowski 1978 and pers. comm.).